-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Vectare
- Thread starter Trainman40083
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
SSmith2009
Member
Founded in Loughborough they've expanded to operate around the East Midlands, Essex and Cambridge/Norfolk as Central Connect/Simmonds/FlagFinders
their Transport Made Simple website
their Transport Made Simple website
aron2smith
Member
Vectare is their old name, they merged with Central Connect and run services under that name instead. Central Connect run a whole bunch of routes, especially contracted rural routes in Hertfordshire and Essex. They run many of the evening and weekend services in Harlow for example. A growing force across much of the East too. And I believe I saw them in Grantham too. I personally really enjoy using them as they have many new buses and mini-buses that are really smooth running and the growth of the company in just a few short years since the pandemic shows they are willing to invest. Already took a fair bit of work from Arriva. Routes like the 15 (formerly 505) from Waltham Cross to Harlow via Waltham Abbey have doubled their frequency under them.
northern506
Member
Vectare is still used for the school transport business, so I’m assuming it will just be this which has changed ownership, and there will be no change for Central Connect.
Teds
Member
Vectare run buses under the Central Connect brand in the East Midlands and East Anglia. Their corporate website concentrates on their school services but looking at the Central Connect website brings up the bus services. They bought Trustybus around Harlow and Simmonds of Diss in Norfolk and have substantially renewed the fleets of both. Probably some other companies that I cannot remember at the moment. The original Vectare before the purchases above operated miscellaneous tendered services over a wide area and claimed to be be more cost effective because of their use of technology.
They seemed to be in the process of rebranding Vectare as Transport Made Simple.
It seems a curious purchase to me - why would an education company want to buy a bus company with lots of non-school services.
They seemed to be in the process of rebranding Vectare as Transport Made Simple.
It seems a curious purchase to me - why would an education company want to buy a bus company with lots of non-school services.
Trainman40083
Established Member
No sorry. Badly written. Meant the company taking them over. Seems an odd move for an education company.
Teds
Member
I haven't heard of them either. Education transport particularly for private schools seems to a significant market judging by the number of smart school minibuses you see around. One school in the East TA has just applied for an O licence which would involve a lot of administration for a small fleet. (Application in a recent N&P.)
Trainman40083
Established Member
Yes, but that was an operation in a fairly small area, whilst Vectare is more widespread...from Derby /Nottingham to Essex
ANDREW_D_WEBB
Member
IIRC Uno is still owned by University of Hertforshire, which is also one of the key hubs of their operation.
Especially an education company which is loss-making, with losses increasing year on year. They do appear to be part of a larger group which may mean things aren't quite as they seem.
A quick look at the business suggests it's maybe not that odd a buy - their business model seems to be providing services to schools. Software initially, but no reason transport can't be treated as providing a service as well.
Full press release here. Looks like it was announced a week ago so has gone under the radar a bit.
They’ve certainly upped their game over the last year or so with a dozen new vehicles and smart livery to boot but, they’ve not helped themselves by calling themselves “Central Connect” with “Transport Made Simple” in large bold letters - is it a tagline, is it the company, it just looks somewhat confused. Stick to one brand name, have the slogan in smaller letters.
Leedsbusman
Member
Per companies house Vectare Ltd has been acquired which is the school booking system. Central Connect hasn’t been (ironically this was the original Vectare Ltd, renamed in 2024)
JKP
Member
Yes, I agree. There are two websites. Vectare Ltd concentrates on school transport solutions for schools, planning routes and presumably undertaking contracting of school transport operators. I note that Vectare has a private school client in Edinburgh which they certainly do not run themselves; whereas Central Connect is the local bus and school transport operator.
- Status